Page 10 - British Blue Yearbook 2023

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www.britishbluecattle.org
2022 CHAIRMANS OVERVIEW
2022 felt like the start of a new chapter, with Covid health restrictions being relaxed, which meant the Society, its members, and cattle of the British Blue Cattle Society could move forward within the beef industry and display what an integral part of this we are.
The January Sale in Carlisle started off the year in good stead, with great demand for bulls and heifers alike. Bulls topped at 10,000gns for Newpole Pierrot from Newpole Livestock Ltd, followed closely by Kelowna Pilot at 9,000gns from Steve, Claire & Joe Pattinson. Male and Supreme Champion of the show was High View Pedro, from Messrs. Lyon.
The heifer trade was on fire, topping at 10,000gns for Top Side Respect from Ross & Elaine Pattinson, she also took the Female and Reserve Overall Championship. Thor Atkinson sold his first prize winner, Newland Petra for 7,000gns.
The average for bulls was £6415.50 up over £393.97 on the previous year and heifers averaged £4375.00 up £595.00.
March saw the “Blue Genes” sale at Shrewsbury, with the Supreme Champion, Birdswood Paddy selling for 6,800gns for John & Louise Okell. Paul Walker sold his bull Crackley Bank Oscar for 6,200gns. It is worth mentioning the generosity of Newpole Livestock, who very kindly donated 10% of the 3,200gns sale of their bull Newpole Poirot to benefit the people of Ukraine.
Females at this venue sold to 5,200gns for the Female Champion, Trencrom Pearly Queen from Gail Ellis and from the same stable, Trencrom Powder Puff sold to 4,500gns. Bulls averaged £4658.18 and Females £4226.25
The inaugural British Blue sale at Worcester on 30th April was a great success, with Almeley Pedro from GL Morgan coming out on top at 4,800gns, followed at 4,500gns by Twyning Ash Preston from Richard & Julie Carter.
Females topped at 2,500gns for an in-calf Heifer from Sam Madeley. Bulls averaged out at £3948 and In-calf Heifers to £2625.
In May, at Carlisle, it was Brennand Panther, from the Walker family who topped the sale at 18,000gns, with the Senior and Reserve Male Champion, Netherwood Pablo selling for 14,000 for Andrew Woodburn. Taking the Junior and Overall Championship was Valley Paolo
for Richard Carruthers.
A superb run of heifers from Kevin Watret’s Solway View herd led the way in the female section, peaking at 16,000gns for Solway View Rosie; 15,000gns, Solway View Pixie and 13,000gns for Solway View Ribbon, with the embryo heifer calf, Solway View Rihanna also making 7500gns. The overall bulls average was £6236.36 and Females, £5177.
Back at the same venue in September, the top price of 5,200gns was achieved by Knockagh Perky, the Female and Overall, Champion from the Ervine family, Northern Ireland. Standing Reserve to her, was the Male Champion, Almeley Pichon, from Graham Morgan, who sold at 5,000gns. Bulls averaged £4235 and Females £3690.
With a small entry of “Blues” at Dungannon in October, it was Chatham Preston who took top spot, selling for 3,500gns for the Morrison family.
The show season kicks off with Balmoral in May and it was Solway View Oki Doki from Robert and Joshua Arrell who took the Supreme Championship under Judge, Andrew Haste of the Stoneleigh Herd. Melvin Masterson took the Reserve Championship with Boroside Lemon.
The Royal Cornwall Show in June was judged by Neil Armstrong who awarded Supreme Champion to Dymond Blue Roisin from Nigel & Candy Jenkinson and Reserve was Trencrom OMG from Gail Ellis.
At the Royal Highland Show, Mark Hartley of the Pendle Herd was the Judge, and it was the beginning of a fantastic run of success for Kevin Watret’s Solway View Kesha. Standing Supreme Champion here and then going on to take the Supreme Championship at the Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh the following month. Standing Reserve to Kesha at the Highland was Droit Penny, exhibited by Dean Saunders.
At the Great Yorkshire, it was Adam Neachell judging. He chose another heifer from Solway View to stand Reserve to Kesha, in the form of Solway View Pearl.
James Martin was in charge at the swelteringly hot Royal Welsh, and he chose Sunnybank Picture Perfect, a lovely heifer from Henry Jewitt, to stand Reserve to Kesha. The British Blues also took the Beef Pairs Champions with